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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Security: Court Prohibits Two Texas Physicians from Prescribing Opioids and Imposes $1.2M in Civil Penalties for Alleged Unlawful Opioid Distribution

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A federal court has prohibited two Dallas-area physicians from prescribing opioids and other controlled substances and imposed a total of $1.2 million in judgments against them in a case alleging the physicians violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Justice Department announced today.

    In a civil complaint filed in 2019 in the Northern District of Texas, the United States alleged that Cesar B. Pena Rodriguez M.D. and Leovares A. Mendez M.D. violated the CSA by issuing prescriptions for opioids and other powerful drugs outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The complaint alleged that the defendants issued thousands of prescriptions without apparent regard for patient harm, including prescriptions for a combination of an opioid, a short-acting benzodiazepine, and a muscle relaxer — a dangerous and frequently-abused drug cocktail known as the “trinity.” In an order filed Oct. 8, the court imposed a $291,451 civil penalty judgment against Mendez in addition to a $914,021 civil penalty judgment against Pena Rodriguez entered earlier this year.

    “Prescribing opioids for no legitimate purpose betrays the trust placed in our medical professionals and significantly threatens the communities they serve,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to use every available tool to stop doctors who fail to uphold their obligation to prescribe controlled substances lawfully.”

    “Doctors are charged with protecting and healing us when we are sick and vulnerable. Instead of healing vulnerable members of our community, these doctors sought to profit off of their addictions,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division, in conjunction with our partners in the Consumer Protection Branch, sought immediate injunctive relief to prevent these doctors from prescribing to addicts and have now terminated their ability to ever put their patients at risk in this way again.”

    “Peña-Rodríguez and Mendez were distributing deadly controlled substances mix known as the ‘trinity’ outside the course of a legitimate medical need, simply to get rich,” said Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas. “Following our successful criminal prosecution, we issued a trinity of ourselves through not just criminal penalties, but now civil and administrative ones as well. Standards for our medical professionals must stay high because patients deserve a doctor they can trust. We will continue to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek all avenues of justice and accountability against all medical providers who violate their code of conduct.”

    The defendants agreed to consent judgments to settle the allegations in the complaint. The orders entered by the court permanently prohibit Pena Rodriguez and Mendez from ever again prescribing, dispensing, administering or distributing controlled substances. The orders also bar them from holding DEA registrations or working at, supervising or owning a medical practice where controlled substances are present.

    In a separate criminal action, Pena Rodriguez previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. Mendez was found guilty at a jury trial of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substances and six counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. Mendez was sentenced to seven years in prison. Dr. Pena Rodriquez was sentenced to two years in prison.

    The DEA investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Delaney for the Northern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Scott B. Dahlquist of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case.

    The claims made in the complaint are allegations that the United States would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence if the case proceeded to trial.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Jersey Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion for evading employment tax penalties assessed against him.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Joseph Caravella, of Randolph, owned several masonry companies in New Jersey. From 2008 to 2016, the IRS assessed approximately $650,000 in Trust Fund Recovery penalties against Caravella for causing three masonry businesses that he owned to not pay their federal employment taxes. From around March 2008 through in or around April 2019, Caravella sought to evade the payment of these penalties by placing companies that he controlled in the names of nominee owners and avoiding using a bank account in his own name to prevent the IRS from levying the funds. Also during that time, Caravella continued to cause his businesses not to pay employment taxes, resulting in an additional loss of $1.2 million to the IRS.

    In total, Carvalla caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,885,519.39.

    Caravella is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Kenneth Vert and Evan Mulbry of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae Gray for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Jersey Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

    Source: US State of California

    A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion for evading employment tax penalties assessed against him.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Joseph Caravella, of Randolph, owned several masonry companies in New Jersey. From 2008 to 2016, the IRS assessed approximately $650,000 in Trust Fund Recovery penalties against Caravella for causing three masonry businesses that he owned to not pay their federal employment taxes. From around March 2008 through in or around April 2019, Caravella sought to evade the payment of these penalties by placing companies that he controlled in the names of nominee owners and avoiding using a bank account in his own name to prevent the IRS from levying the funds. Also during that time, Caravella continued to cause his businesses not to pay employment taxes, resulting in an additional loss of $1.2 million to the IRS.

    In total, Carvalla caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,885,519.39.

    Caravella is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Kenneth Vert and Evan Mulbry of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae Gray for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Violations for Violently Assaulting Subdued Man

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies were sentenced for using unlawful force on a man they arrested. Levi White, 34, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison, and Zackary King, 28, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison.

    Each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for a retaliatory assault on R.W., a 26-year-old man. On Aug. 21, 2022, White, King and a third officer approached R.W. in a gas station parking lot during their investigation into a person threatening a store attendant. R.W. lunged at White and tackled him, then all three officers quickly subdued R.W. and pinned him to the ground. After R.W. was pinned to the ground and no longer fighting the officers, White punched R.W. at least nine times in the head, then lifted R.W.’s head and slammed it into the pavement. King kicked R.W. in the back and struck R.W. once in the midsection with his fist. Following the announcement of a federal investigation into the assault, White obstructed the investigation by wiping all data from his county-issued cell phone and selectively deleting text messages about the incident from his personal phone. White asked King if King was also going to wipe his cell phone, but King declined to do so.

    “Punching a man in the head, slamming their head repeatedly on the concrete pavement, kicking them in the back and striking them in the midsection — this kind of gratuitous and unjustified violence at the hands of law enforcement runs contrary to the oath that officers take in our country to protect and serve,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power as law enforcement officers by assaulting a person in their custody. At the time of the assaults, three officers had already subdued the victim, and further force was unnecessary and unlawful. White added fuel to the fire by taking steps to obstruct the investigation into the violent assault. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who abuse their authority and violate the rights of people in their custody.”

    “Levi White and Zackary King’s sentencings prove that no law enforcement officer is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. “FBI Little Rock, alongside our trusted partners at Arkansas State Police, will continue to investigate potential abuses of power and civil rights violations throughout our state. We encourage anyone who has information about abusive or corrupt law enforcement to contact the FBI’s ArkTrust Task Force immediately.”

    The FBI Little Rock Field Office and Arkansas State Police investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Roberts and Devon Still for the Western District of Arkansas and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Trial Attorneys Lia Rettammel and Anna Gotfryd of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Court Prohibits Two Texas Physicians from Prescribing Opioids and Imposes $1.2M in Civil Penalties for Alleged Unlawful Opioid Distribution

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Court Prohibits Two Texas Physicians from Prescribing Opioids and Imposes $1.2M in Civil Penalties for Alleged Unlawful Opioid Distribution

    A federal court has prohibited two Dallas-area physicians from prescribing opioids and other controlled substances and imposed a total of $1.2 million in judgments against them in a case alleging the physicians violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Justice Department announced today.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Secures Over $6.5M from Citadel Federal Credit Union to Address Redlining of Black and Hispanic Communities

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Justice Department Secures Over $6.5M from Citadel Federal Credit Union to Address Redlining of Black and Hispanic Communities

    The Justice Department announced today that Citadel Federal Credit Union (Citadel) has agreed to pay over $6.5 million to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in and around Philadelphia. This landmark agreement is the Justice Department’s first redlining settlement with a credit union, making this a historic achievement for the Combating Redlining Initiative.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Violations for Violently Assaulting Subdued Man

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Violations for Violently Assaulting Subdued Man

    Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies were sentenced for using unlawful force on a man they arrested. Levi White, 34, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison, and Zackary King, 28, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New councillor elected to St Michael’s ward

    Source: City of Coventry

    Cllr Sanjida Jobbar (left) is congratulated by Council Chief Executive Dr Julie Nugent

    Sanjida Jobbar has been elected as the new councillor for St Michael’s ward after winning a by-election last night.

    The election was held following the resignation of David Welsh, who had served the ward since 2010.

    Labour’s Cllr Jobbar won with a 572 majority, beating Dave Nellist of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition into second place with 49% of the vote. Turnout was 11.15%

    View the full results on the Council’s website.

    Friday, 11th October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Watson Coleman Meets with Local Midwives and Doulas

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

    October 10, 2024

    Ewing, NJ (Thursday, October 10, 2024) – Today, as part of National Midwifery Week, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) sat down with midwives, doulas, healthcare professionals, and their patients at the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey in Trenton. At the listening session, they discussed how healthcare is evolving, centering on the diverse needs of mothers, from education to advocacy to postnatal recovery, as well as the importance of culturally competent care. 

    “Midwives and doulas represent an important part of the broader team that helps mothers through the incredible journey that is bringing a child into the world,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “Doulas and midwives help mothers every step of the way, from education to attending prenatal visits and serving as an advocate for the mother, helping the mother give birth, and assisting new mothers in those crucial first months of life. More and more families are turning to midwives and doulas for the special care they provide. I remain committed to ensuring well-trained, culturally competent doulas and midwives are available to the mothers who need them.”

    “Midwives in New Jersey applaud Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s resolution recognizing the value of midwifery care with its proven positive outcomes,” said Dr. Julie Blumenfeld, Certified Nurse Midwife for Capital Health Prenatal Clinic in Trenton & President of NJ Affiliate of American College of Nurse Midwives. “Increasing access to midwifery care will contribute to improved maternal health outcomes and ensure equity for birthing people and their families in New Jersey and across the nation.”

    “We proudly and strongly support United States Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s resolution honoring the life-saving work of certified nurse midwives,” said Donna C. Pressma, CHSofNJ President & CEO. “Every day, we witness certified nurse midwives and doulas’ caring, trained services producing for diverse pregnant and postpartum mothers more healthy full-term and full-weight births.”

    “Midwives are licensed clinicians who provide high-quality care that reduces maternal mortality rates. Pairing midwifery care with the support of a doula can further improve health outcomes for birthing people and their families,” said Armonie Pierre-Jacques, NJ Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI).  

    “For over 20 years, CHSofNJ has been committed to providing a continuum of services that ensure birthing people feel supported, respected, and treated with dignity,” said Socorro Garcia, CHSofNJ Mercer County Program Administrator, Family and Maternal Child Health Services. “Today’s listening session with Congresswoman Watson Coleman reinforces our shared dedication to be a voice for Central NJ families. Thank you, Congresswoman, for listening and for your continuous support.”

    “Working together with midwives to support pregnant women makes a difference for doulas; it’s beautiful, because everyone understands each other’s role in supporting the mother, and at the same time, we work as a team for the well-being of both the mother and the baby,” said Silvia Corado, CHSofNJ Program Administrator of Community Based Doula Programs.

    Children’s Home Society was able to train and hire an additional 26 doulas in part thanks to Community Project Funding directed by Congresswoman Watson Coleman in 2023.

    This week, Congresswoman Watson Coleman and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) introduced a resolution recognizing National Midwifery Week as October 6th through October 12th.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Get amongst the fun in Auckland’s city centre, for Play Week 2024

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council is encouraging Aucklanders to enjoy themselves in the city centre with a range of activities to celebrate Play Week, an annual event that promotes physical activity, play and games.

    Play Week is a national Sport NZ-led initiative promoting play as one of the top four ways to get active, alongside physical activity in school, active recreation, and sport.    

    Auckland Play Week runs from Friday 25 October until Sunday 3 November and Aucklanders are encouraged to participate. Not only does play bring with it a positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing, but it’s also a great way of connecting with others. Get amongst the fun in a way that suits you with a range of options fit for all ages; from junk play in Te Komititanga to an introductory course on Mahjong, street game design workshops, Dungeons and Dragons sessions and much more. 

    Eight ways to play!

    Indoor play

    Ellen Melville Centre for A Photographic Exhibition

    Stop by the Ellen Melville Centre for A Photographic Exhibition – a multi-media window installation that invites passersby to experience the creativity of loose parts play, as seen through the eyes of school children. The images and words showcased are drawn from a single day of Junky Monkeys sessions at a Primary school, highlighting both the artistic expression and the joyful silliness inherent in junk play.

    Dungeons & Dragons sessions

    Or perhaps you’re keen to delve into the realm of your imagination? Embark on an adventure at the Dungeons & Dragons sessions which will take place in the Ellen Mellvile Centre. Dungeons and Dragons has seen a global resurgence in recent years so grab this opportunity to come experience what the fuss is all about and join in a game session with the master storytellers from Questbook. Designed for all ages – families and newcomers alike are welcome to come play.

    Play Urban Design Workshop

    You can also get your creativity flowing and come along to Isthmus Office Queen Street to join the Play Urban Design Workshop, an open studio workshop with interactive engagements to explore, test and consider what a Playfull City could look like. 

    Or if you’re around Silo Park, join the game designers from The Open Fort for their Street Games Design Workshop, inside Silo 6 in the Wynyard Quarter.  Aimed at families and adults, they will take you through a fun game design process – designing, prototyping, playtesting and playing imaginative outdoor games using their giant kit of game props.  They will provide everything you need – just bring your creativity, imagination and fun!

    Outdoor Play

    Myers Parks Pop Up Games and Activities

    Head along to Myers Park and have a go at one of the games and activities on offer by the Pop-Up Play team. There will be a wide range of equipment such as, hoops, footballs, rackets and discs to play with. You can also explore Myers Park with the Conscious Kids team and their play session later in the week, which is focused on nature and the environment.

    Mas-Wrestling and Mahjong in Freyberg Square

    Try something new at Freyberg Square! Choose from a special showcase of “Mas-wrestling” – a traditional and strength-based sport where competitors pull on a wooden stick to try and unbalance their opponent or come learn Mahjong with the 1-Missing 3-Lonely Wobbly Table Mahjong Club!  Their friendly, experienced sifu (teachers) will take players of all ages through the basics and teach some tips and tricks to experienced players.  This wonderfully social game is a great way to make new friends and test your memory skills.

    Outdoor Soccer, Games and Cycling

    Play Week will also be taking over Te Komititanga Square for a full day of outdoor play activities for all ages. Jump into the mini-soccer Hungerball arena and test your skills in this fast-paced communal game of frantic footwork. Stretch your imagination with the expansive loose parts playground from Junky Monkeys and Conscious Kids. Sit down with the folks from The Open Fort at their Play Cafe and make some new friends while playing games, running around on some secret treasure hunts or buzzing as bees in their giant Bee Garden game.

    You can also join the City Centre Ride ‘n’ Seek – with Biketober well underway, consider the City Centre Loop for your next bike adventure. During October, come check out the Loop and Ride ‘n’ Seek as you go! There are 5 interactive boards around the Loop where you can enter a draw to win some fantastic prizes! The City Centre loop is a 6.7km network of off-road paths and protected cycle lanes connecting you to all the city centre has to offer.

    Learn about play and why it’s important

    Join a panel conversation at Aotea Centre

    You can also join an in-person event at Aotea Centre, Auckland Conversations – How can we make Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland a playful city?, where a panel of Play Experts will dive deeper into the topic of play, encouraging participants to imagine what it would be like if Tāmaki Makaurau was full of opportunities for play and fun, for people of all ages.

    The Urban Room Webinar

    Join the conversations around play and why it’s crucial for tamariki and adults alike! You can jump online to be part of the webinar “The Urban Room” in conversation with Tim Gill, author of Urban Playground: How child-friendly planning and design can save cities, and learn how Tim’s groundbreaking research shapes play and mobility for our young people and results in better cities for all.

    The Auckland city centre Play Week programme is supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate and all activities and events are free to attend. For more information, visit OurAuckland.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Free community weed bins here for another year

    Source: Auckland Council

    Waitākere Ranges residents can keep up their good work getting rid of pest plants, with community weed bins weekends returning for another year.  

    The bins are provided thanks to funding from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Auckland Council, so that residents can dispose of invasive weeds from their own properties at no cost. 

    “The work of locals to protect our special native bush makes a huge difference,” says Waitākere Ranges Local Board Chair Greg Presland.  

    “We are proud to fund the weed bins as one part of environmental efforts by westies and we encourage all residents to consider making use of them.”  

    Last year, hard-working weeders used the bins to clear almost 95 tonnes of weeds such as Chinese privet, climbing asparagus, honeysuckle, moth plant, plectranthus, tradescantia, and woolly nightshade. 

    “Each year we see people getting better at using these bins in the right way,” adds Mel Ward, EcoMatters Environment Trust senior engagement specialist.  

    “For example, we ask that people use the bins just for wild ginger seed heads and roots, as these are the parts that can regrow.  

    “Wild ginger stems and leaves can be composted at home or left on the ground in the property’s bush area, which leaves more room in the community bins for other accepted invasive weeds.” 

    Weed bins will be located at community sites across the Waitākere Ranges area on various weekends between October 2024 and June 2025.  

    There are several Pest Plant Roadshows planned at community events where people can bring all their questions about invasive weeds. To find out more, including where and when to find a community weed bin, accepted weed types and event dates, please visit: ecomatters.org.nz/weedbins 

    Bin locations 

    Glen Eden: Konini School, 44 Withers Rd 

    Huia: Huia Domain, Huia Rd 

    Laingholm: Laingholm Community Hall, 69 Victory Rd 

    Swanson: Central Landscape Supplies (9am-4pm), 598 Swanson Rd 

    Te Henga: Pae o Te Rangi Regional Park, 114 Te Henga Rd 

    Titirangi: Zig Zag Track, Park Rd 

    Waiatarua: Waiatarua Community Hall, 911 West Coast Rd 

    Weed Bin Weekends 

    • 19-20 October 2024: Huia and Laingholm
    • 26-27 October 2024 Waiatarua
    • 9-10 Nov 2024: Glen Eden and Titirangi 
    • 7-8 Dec 2024: Swanson and Te Henga 
    • 11-12 Jan 2025: Laingholm and Waiatarua 
    • 8-9 Feb 2025: Huia, Glen Eden and Titirangi 
    • 1-2 Mar 2025: Huia, Swanson and Te Henga 
    • 5-6 Apr 2025: Huia, Laingholm and Waiatarua 
    • 3-4 May 2025: Glen Eden and Titirangi 
    • 14-15 Jun 2025: Swanson and Te Henga 

    Stay up to date

    Sign up for the Waitākere Ranges Local Board E-news to get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month, or follow them on Facebook.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road rebuilds and resurfacing the focus of maintenance season in Manawatū-Whanganui

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    People travelling throughout Manawatū-Whanganui over the next few months can expect to see a lot of activity rebuilding and resealing the region’s state highways.

    The 2024/25 summer maintenance season for the Manawatū-Whanganui region is now underway, with crews starting road rebuilds on State Highway 1 in Levin and State Highway 2 near Dannevirke.

    During the course of the maintenance season, which typically runs between October to March when the weather is warmer and drier, it’s anticipated that 17 lane kilometres* of state highway in the region will be rebuilt.

    Over the summer months, about 74 lane kilometres are expected to be renewed in total (rebuilt, resealed and resurfaced) throughout the region, which is a bumper increase from the previous 2023/24 season.

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani says the focus this season is on more road rebuilding.

    “We’re working to improve the overall network condition through more intensive treatments, increasing pavement quality.”

    These works are underway:

    • State Highway 1, Levin rebuild: Work has begun and is expected to run for about 12 weeks, with crews working mostly at night. Stop/go will be in place, with some drainage improvement works also expected during the day.
    • State Highway 2, rebuild: Work has begun on a section of SH2 at Matamau, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go will be in place each day for about 4 weeks.
    • State Highway 2, resurfacing: Night-time asphalting works are underway on SH2 near the Mangatera Stream Bridge, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go will be in place at night, with works expected to be complete on Saturday 12 October.

    These works are coming up:

    • State Highway 3, resurfacing: From 16 – 18 October, resurfacing will take place on SH3 Carlton Ave, Whanganui, with a single-lane closure and southbound detour in place. Light vehicles will detour via Purnell St, Guyton St, Heads Rd and back to SH3. Heavy vehicles to detour Montgomery Rd, Mosston Rd, Heads Rd and back to SH3.
    • State Highway 2, resurfacing: From 29 October – 1 November, day-time resurfacing work will take place on SH2 Stanley St in Dannevirke. A single-lane closure and northbound detour will be in place via Rawhiti St, Queen St, Allan St, Cole St and back to SH2.
    • State Highway 2, rebuild: From 31 October – 28 November, road rebuild work will take place on SH2 in Papatawa, north of Ball Road, between Woodville and Dannevirke. Day-time stop/go will be in place.

    Other areas with planned works:

    • Further road rebuilds are expected on SH1 near Bulls, SH1 near Rata, SH1 north of Mangaweka, SH54 near Vinegar Hill, SH54 Kimbolton Road and SH56 Opiki.
    • Some significant asphalt resurfacing sites planned this season include the SH1/3 intersection in Bulls, SH2 Pahiatua CBD, SH2 Woodville CBD, SH2 Eketāhuna CBD and SH2 near Oringi Rail Bridge.
    • A range of reseals are planned across state highways throughout the region over the summer months, especially on SH2 between Norsewood and Eketāhuna.

    Please keep up to date with high impact works via Journey Planner(external link).

    The season’s work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

    Ms Pani says planned rebuilds help improve the overall condition of our state highway network as they lead to stronger roads that need fewer repairs and less maintenance.

    “We’re drivers too and we know there will be long term benefits, but the short-term disruption can be frustrating. We are working hard to minimise the impact of works on road users, but some level of disruption is unavoidable. We appreciate the patience of all road users throughout Manawatū-Whanganui as we complete this necessary maintenance work on the region’s roads.

    “It’s also important that drivers plan their trips accordingly, follow the temporary traffic management in place, adhere to all speed restrictions in place and respect our crews while travelling through the roadworks site.

    “Our road workers will do their best to complete their work safely and efficiently and keep you moving this summer. Temporary traffic management is there to make everyone’s journey safer. Please be respectful to our crews and follow their advice and instructions,” says Ms Pani.

    Further information

    • More information on works will be shared with stakeholders once confirmed. Locations may be subject to change ahead of work starting on site.
    • Please note, the lists above are not complete, and NZTA will continue to communicate with local communities as soon as possible before work begins at various sites.
    • For more information about the 2024/2025 road maintenance season, please visit
      NZTA’s Manawatū-Whanganui maintenance and operations webpage

    *Lane kilometres are the total length of lanes to be resealed or rehabilitated. For example, resealing both lanes of a 10 kilometre stretch of two-lane highway results in 20 lane kilometres.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland overnight motorway closures 13 – 18 October 2024

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 18 October 2024.

    Please note this traffic bulletin is updated every Friday.

    Daily updated closure information(external link)

    Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am. Traffic management may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline.

     NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

    • Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 13 & 15 October
      • Orewa southbound on-ramp, 13 & 15 October
      • Millwater southbound on-ramp, 13 & 15 October
    • Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 14 October
      • Orewa southbound on-ramp, 14 October
      • Millwater southbound on-ramp, 14 October
      • Silverdale southbound on-ramp, 14 October
    • Northbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 13-15 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Silverdale northbound on-ramp, 13-15 October
      • Oteha Valley Road northbound on-ramp, 13-15 October
    • Southbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Oteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Greville Road southbound on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • SH1 southbound to SH18 westbound link, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Northbound lanes between Constellation Drive off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 16 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Greville Road northbound on-ramp, 16 October
      • Constellation Drive northbound on-ramp, 16 October
    • Northbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Tristram Avenue northbound on-ramp, 17 October
      • Northcote Road northbound on-ramp, 17 October
    • Onewa Road southbound off-ramp, 13 October
    • Onewa Road southbound on-ramp, 13 October
    • Onewa Road northbound on-ramp, 13 October

    CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)

    • Eastbound lanes between Wellesley Street East (SH1) off-ramp and Alten Road, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Eastbound lanes between Wellesley Street East (SH16) off-ramp and Alten Road, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Grafton Road eastbound on-ramp, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)

    SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

    • Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
      • Takanini southbound on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
      • Papakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
      • Papakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
    • Northbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 15-16 October
      • Papakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 15-16 October
      • Papakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 15-16 October
    • Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 17 October
      • Papakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 17 October
      • Papakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 17 October
      • Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 17 October
    • Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 13 October
      • Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 13-13 October
    • Bombay southbound off-ramp, 13-17 October
    • Bombay northbound off-ramp, 13-17 October
    • Pokeno southbound off-ramp, 16-17 October
    • Pokeno southbound on-ramp, 16-17 October
    • Pioneer Road southbound off-ramp, 16-17 October
    • Southbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Te Kauwhata on-ramp, 17 October
      • Hampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 17 October

    NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)

    • Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Foster Road, 13-14 October (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Northbound lanes between Foster Road and Waimauku Roundabout, 13-14 October (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Lincoln Road northbound on-ramp, 15-16 October
    • SH16 eastbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 14 October
      • Great North Road eastbound off ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 14 October
    • SH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 14 October

    UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)

    • Eastbound lanes between Albany Highway off-ramp and Paul Matthews Road, 16 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • SH18 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 16 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Albany Highway westbound on-ramp, 16 October
    • Westbound lanes between Paul Matthews Road and Albany Highway on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Paul Matthews Road westbound on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)

    SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)

    • Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 links (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 15-16 October
      • Maioro Street northbound on-ramp (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 15-16 October
    • Dominion Road northbound off-ramp, 14-17 October

    GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)

    • None planned

    PUHINUI ROAD (SH20B)

    • None planned

    STATE HIGHWAY 22 (SH22)

    • None planned

    STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)

    • None planned   

    Please follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

    Current overnight closure information(external link)

    Auckland roads and public transport(external link)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: R v. Kloubakov: Supreme Court of Canada ignores sex workers in case on sex work

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vincent Wong, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Windsor

    The Supreme Court of Canada will soon hear a case, R v. Kloubakov, in which two men charged with financially benefiting from sex work are claiming the charges violate their Charter rights.

    The accused worked as drivers for sex workers in Calgary. A court in Alberta found them guilty of benefiting financially from prostitution and being parties to procuring women into the sex trade. They argue that Canada’s sex work laws criminalize people who work with sex workers in non-exploitative situations, and are therefore unconstitutional.

    While the appellants in this case are not sex workers themselves, the outcome greatly impacts sex workers and their rights because it could, among other things, undermine their security and ability to put in place safety measures. Migrants arrested under these laws also face the prospect of loss of status, detention and deportation.

    Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has chosen to exclude a national coalition of 23 sex worker organizations, the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (CASWLR), and two organizations that work with migrant sex workers (the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers.

    The court has concluded their views are irrelevant to the case at hand. This exclusion rehearses Canada’s longer history of excluding those connected with sex work based on race, gender and immigration status.

    Canada’s sex work law

    This case centres on the procurement and material benefits provisions in Canada’s criminal code. They are part of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA), which was passed in 2014 after the Supreme Court struck down previous provisions targeting sex work.

    PCEPA criminalizes “everyone who procures a person to offer or provide sexual services” and anyone “who receives a financial or other material benefit” from sex work, with certain exceptions.

    The law assumes that sex workers are victims and ignores their agency and labour. While being a sex worker is not directly made an offence, the law criminalizes the purchase of sexual services and thus renders illegal all commercial transactions for sex. Activists have argued that doing so has driven sex work further underground. Sex workers, and those wishing to purchase sexual services, must avoid police for fear of detection, apprehension and in the case of migrant women, deportation.

    Going underground means sex workers are at amplified risk of exploitation and physical harm because they have reduced bargaining power and cannot use safety measures, such as hiring third parties or implementing certain vetting and safety protocols in the spaces they would like to use, for fear of attracting the attention of police.

    CASWLR argues that the law’s criminalization of sex workers and third parties replicates and even exacerbates the harms of the former laws that the Court found violated sex workers’ Charter rights to security of the person.

    As a sex worker-led umbrella organization, CASWLR members have lived expertise and intimate knowledge of how these laws still harm sex workers in ways that can crucially inform the question of whether the laws are constitutional.

    Migrant sex workers

    Aside from direct criminalization, migrant sex workers may face additional and distinct consequences under immigration laws if they are charged, convicted or merely under criminal investigation. Migrant sex workers could lose their status in Canada, be detained and deported and be barred from re-entering the country. Further, it is not just sex workers themselves who are affected. Migrant third parties and their family members’ immigration status and future could be imperilled as well.

    These potential consequences may drive migrant sex workers to do their work in unsafe conditions to avoid detection by police and immigration enforcement. Sex workers are effectively forced into these precarious conditions because of the existing laws.

    In our view, loss of immigration status and deportation for engaging in non-exploitative, consensual activity are consequences of the current law that are not justified under the Charter because of the risks of violence and other harms that arise from avoiding detection.

    The Court, however, has decided it will not be considering this aspect at all and has excluded the only two organizations that work with migrant sex workers. The Court did grant intervener status to some organizations who will do a reasonable job in detailing some of the harms of the laws. However, none are sex worker-led and none represent migrant sex workers who may experience additional harms.

    The Supreme Court denied intervener status to these organizations because they perceived their interventions as providing new information that would unduly expand the case. Denying standing to these organizations, however, has the ultimate effect of not hearing from those directly impacted by the laws being examined.

    Courts are meant to consider the wider implications of how laws are interpreted, implemented and the potential ways they affect others. This is particularly important in constitutional challenges where it is both foreseeable and expected that legal decisions will have widely ranging effects on multiple groups.

    History of migrant exclusion

    Unfortunately, this exclusion is tied to the history of discrimination and stigmatization of Asian migrant sex workers, ostensibly for their own protection. Though many Canadians may have heard of Canada’s law that restricted Chinese immigration, including the infamous Head Tax, many may not know that it explicitly barred “any Chinese woman who is known to be a prostitute.”

    This law took influence from the very first immigration ban in the United States, the 1875 Page Act. This law barred the immigration of women from “any Oriental country” if they were “imported for the purposes of prostitution.” The exclusion and policing of Asian sex workers was justified by ideas of carceral humanitarianism, which proposes that exclusion and policing are a necessary way of protecting people from being trafficked.

    These so-called safety measures did not achieve either goal — in the past or present. Migrant sex workers who are directly targeted and harmed by the law were never directly asked what they desired or whether they needed saving.

    We see these long-standing patterns at work again today with the Supreme Court’s exclusion of migrant sex workers (and other sex workers) in R v. Kloubakov. The court is demonstrating that it has clearly not learned from history.

    When courts deny those most impacted by the law a hearing, they do not take into account all of the considerations they should. Cases can take years to reach the Supreme Court. When courts do take up the task to review law, it should welcome those directly affected by it, particularly when there are groups that have been traditionally marginalized from political and legal power.

    For courts to be effective, they must hear from those who can best explain how their rights are violated and excluded from the discussion. Trust in our justice system and our laws are diminished when those directly harmed by it have no say and no recourse.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. R v. Kloubakov: Supreme Court of Canada ignores sex workers in case on sex work – https://theconversation.com/r-v-kloubakov-supreme-court-of-canada-ignores-sex-workers-in-case-on-sex-work-240417

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: TD Bank’s Guilty Plea for Bank Secrecy Act & Money Laundering Conspiracy Violations $1.8B Resolution

    Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)

    The Justice Department announced that TD Bank N.A. (TDBNA), the 10th largest bank in the United States, and its parent company TD Bank US Holding Company (TDBUSH) has pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $1.8 billion in penalties to resolve the Justice Department’s investigation into violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and money laundering.

    Related:
    https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/td-bank-pleads-guilty-bank-secrecy-act-and-money-laundering-conspiracy-violations-18b

    https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-delivers-remarks-announcing-td-banks-guilty-plea-bank

    https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/deputy-attorney-general-lisa-monaco-delivers-remarks-announcing-td-banks-guilty-plea

    https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/principal-assistant-attorney-general-nicole-m-argentieri-delivers-remarks-announcing-td

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0RKLNV-New

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Stabbing incident – Parap

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have arrested a 19-year-old woman following a series of random attacks in Parap yesterday evening.

    At around 6:15pm, police received multiple reports of the woman pursuing individuals with scissors and attacking them.

    Three victims suffered injuries during the incident. A woman in her 60s was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital by St John Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. A 70-year-old man and a 27-year-old man suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

    CCTV operators monitored the situation in real time, enabling police to quickly locate and arrest the offender nearby. She was taken into custody and transported to Palmerston Watch House, where she has since been charged with 3 counts of Aggravated assault and one count of Going armed in public. She was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today. 

    Police are continuing their investigation and interviewing witnesses. Anyone who witnessed the incident, or was in the area, is encouraged to contact police at 131 444 or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott, Grassley, Colleagues Push DOJ to Investigate Requirements for Hamas-Linked Campus Orgs to Register as Foreign Agents

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in penning a letter to the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI regarding Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) enforcement, raising concerns Hamas-linked entities are escaping FARA scrutiny as they seek to shape U.S. public opinion and policy outcomes through partnerships with campus organizations. Joining Senators Scott and Grassley on the effort are Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

    The senators’ inquiry specifically hones in on the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) – which received backing from an organization whose associated entities the U.S. government has implicated for financing Hamas – and the hundreds of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters NSJP claims to support across the U.S.

    “It is incumbent upon all of us crack down on hidden foreign influence. […] The introduction of hostile foreign adversaries into domestic political discussion is especially of issue when it is fueling an alarming rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. The public reporting appears to indicate that NSJP and related chapters may fit into the FARA definition of ‘publicity agent,’ at minimum, and its conduct, among other activity, may constitute a public relations effort designed to impact U.S. public opinion in favor of a foreign principal, which would meet FARA’s definition of political activities,” wrote the senators.

    The senators continued, “Taken as a whole, these actions require further investigation from DOJ and the FBI to fully determine whether NSJP and SJP chapters should register as foreign agents under FARA and the extent of Hamas and Iran’s potential involvement.”

    Scott, Grassley, and their colleagues cite numerous examples that signal NSJP and SJP chapters may have an obligation to register as agents under FARA. Several follow.

    1. Federal court filings from state Attorneys General assert NSJP’s material support to Hamas.
    2. Dozens of SJP chapters echoed NSJP’s social media messages lauding Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023, attack on Israel; some “[praised] the creativity” of Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israeli civilians.
    3. NSJP urged SJP chapters in the U.S. to publicly facilitate and join “armed struggles, general strikes and popular demonstrations.”
    4. NSJP launched a campaign against U.S. college administrators, pushing for divestments in Israel-connected assets.
    5. NSJP held a summer 2024 program for SJP participants to “deepen our understanding of our current political moment […] with the aim entrenching the frameworks necessary to sustain and grow the Student Intifada.”
    6. NSJP has stated it “aim[s] to develop a student movement that is connected, disciplined, and equipped” with tools toward fulfilling its mission.

    Considering this evidence and more, the senators are asking DOJ and FBI pointed questions about the steps they have taken to assess NSJP and SJP’s potential requirement to register as foreign agents.

    Background:

    Congress passed FARA in 1938 to identify Nazi propaganda and other foreign efforts to sway U.S. policy and public opinion. The content-neutral law was designed not to prohibit activity, but rather, to ensure certain individuals who act as agents of a foreign government or enterprise register with DOJ.

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Investigation into FBI Sexual Misconduct Reveals ‘Fox is Guarding the Hen House’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is shining new light on the prevalence of sexual misconduct at the FBI, amid continued agency stonewalling and empty assurances from Director Christopher Wray that he would “follow up” on Grassley’s inquiries. Despite FBI’s lack of cooperation, Grassley’s ongoing oversight reveals the FBI is still not protecting its own employees from sexual harassment and is treating child sex abuse cases as a non-priority.
    Grassley today sent a pointed letter to the FBI and Justice Department (DOJ). In it, he urged the FBI to own up to its failures and provide the data he’s requested for years. The information Grassley recently received via protected whistleblower disclosures suggests his oversight dating back to October 2022 is as timely as ever.
    Sexual Misconduct Persists among FBI Employees:
    Latest records show the assistant director who requested a review of disciplinary patterns at the FBI – which found hundreds of senior officials voluntarily retired or resigned to evade accountability for sexual misconduct allegations – left the FBI while he, himself, was under investigation.
    “Apparently, one of the reasons DOJ and its component agencies can’t straighten out their problems of workplace harassment is that the fox is guarding the hen house,” Grassley wrote. “The supreme irony of [then-Executive Assistant Director of the Human Resources Branch, Jeffrey] Sallet requesting the [Office of Disciplinary Appeals] review of senior officials retiring or resigning to avoid disciplinary action is that ‘Sallet left the FBI and federal service while this investigation was ongoing.’”
    FBI Moves Agents off Child Sex Abuse Cases, onto January 6 Cases:
    Per protected whistleblower disclosures, the FBI has reassigned personnel from high-volume child exploitation cases to January 6 cases. Grassley notes FBI’s failure to dedicate adequate resources to child sex abuse cases is a decades-old problem politicization at the bureau is exacerbating. One reassigned whistleblower said they sat “essentially idle for eight to nine months” on January 6 cases while child sex abuse cases piled up. An Assistant Special Agent in Charge reportedly told that whistleblower, “Child sexual abuse material investigations were no longer an FBI priority […].”
    “One thing is certain,” Grassley wrote, “The FBI will not be able to remedy its many failings in this area if it treats sexual abuse against children as a non-priority.”
    Background:
    DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and Congress have long pushed FBI to address sexual harassment across the bureau. In 2021, DOJ OIG issued the FBI two recommendations on its demonstrated failures to hold employees responsible for wrongdoing after they separate from the agency, particularly when they do so while under investigation. As of today, approximately three years later, the FBI has not closed either of those recommendations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Ossoff Laud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Prison Contraband Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of their Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act. The bipartisan bill aims to increase the penalty for smuggling or possessing a contraband cellphone in federal prisons from a misdemeanor to a felony. It now awaits passage in the House of Representatives. 
    “Contraband cellphones allow prisoners to coordinate illegal activity from behind bars. That’s an obvious security risk to prison staff, other inmates and the public,” Grassley said. “I’m glad the Senate passed our bipartisan legislation to stiffen penalties for cellphone smuggling, and the House ought to follow suit.” 
    “My bipartisan investigations of corruption, abuse, and misconduct in the Federal prison system have revealed systemic challenges that allow for the dangerous flow of contraband, which is a threat to safety and security,” Ossoff said. “Bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we’ve passed our bipartisan bill to strengthen penalties for smuggling contraband into Federal prisons.” 
    “A cell phone in a prison is a deadly weapon. Yet, as our investigative work continues to demonstrate, contraband cell phones have proven to be pervasive inside many federal prisons—a reality that undermines the safety and security of these institutions for BOP staff, inmates, and the public,” said Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz. “Lieutenant Albarati was a true hero, selflessly dedicated to making his community and MDC Guaynabo safer by preventing criminal activity inside the facility. I commend Senators Ossoff, Grassley, and Booker for honoring his memory by sponsoring this public safety reform and for recognizing the severity of this problem. By making the introduction of a cell phone into a prison a felony, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act will allow investigators and prosecutors to more effectively bring to justice those introducing cell phones into prisons, curb the flow of illicit cell phones into prisons, make our communities and prisons safer, and help to save lives. We look forward to working with the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis, as it considers this critical public safety reform.” 
    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
    Bill text is available HERE.
    Background:
    The Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act builds on the Grassley-Feinstein Cell Phone Contraband Act, which became law in 2010, designating cellphones as contraband in federal prison.
    Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati, a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer, was murdered in 2013 after completing his shift at a federal prison in Puerto Rico. Five men who plead guilty to the crime admitted they targeted Albarati as a direct result of continuous seizures of contraband, including cellphones. The inmate who placed the hit on Albarati did so using a contraband cellphone.
    A recent DOJ report from Inspector General Horowitz found nearly a third of deaths in BOP custody have occurred as a result of contraband, drugs or weapons.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Reed Leads Tour of Latino-Owned Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    CENTRAL FALLS, RI – In an effort to highlight the Ocean State’s vibrant Latino culture, restaurants, and small businesses, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today teamed up with the City of Central Falls and the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and lead a special walking tour along Broad Street in Central Falls.
    The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15 to October 15.  It is a time to appreciate and celebrate the colorful cultures, rich histories, and diversity of the nation’s Hispanic population whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
    The special walking tour: “Un recorrido por los negocios hispanos que impulsan y elevan a nuestras comunidades” (“A tour of hispanic businesses that fuel and uplift our communities”), featured several small businesses, both new and long-standing establishments, and amplified ventures that are helping power the local economy forward while also giving back to their neighbors.
    “The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is about shaping the future.  As we saw during today’s walking tour, Mayor Rivera, the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Central Falls’ diverse small business community have embodied that theme through their actions, advocacy, and commitment to their neighbors,” said Senator Reed.  “I will continue to stand with Rhode Island’s vibrant and diverse Hispanic and Latino communities to ensure that the future of our state remains strong, prosperous, and welcoming to all who want to plant their roots here.”
    “Central Falls celebrates the rich cultural contributions of our Latino and Hispanic communities and is home to many Latino-owned small businesses that make our city vibrant,” said Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera.  “Thank you, Senator Reed, for your incredible partnership and support for Latino communities across Rhode Island, and to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for ensuring these businesses have the resources they need to succeed.”
    At the beginning of the tour, Senator Reed joined Mayor Rivera, Oscar Mejias, and members of the community for lunch at La Hacienda Restaurant, a family-owned restaurant dishing out authentic Salvadoran Mexican cuisine. The group then visited a host of local businesses that help the community celebrate together, eat together, and join together.
    The tour included stops at Krystal’s Flower Shop, a small business providing specialty floral arrangements and decorations for celebrations and ceremonies; Esperanza Convenience Store; Tony’s Shoe Service; Rossell’s Beauty Salon, a community institution that has been a fixture on Broad Street for nearly 30 years; and Elsy Nutrition, a family-owned small business promoting the importance of good nutrition.
    Hispanic or Latino residents now make up 18 percent of Rhode Island’s population, up from 12.4 percent in 2010, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau.  The Ocean State has long been home to thriving Colombian, Dominican, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican, and Mexican communities among others, each with its own unique traditions and identities within the Hispanic community that all contribute to Rhode Island’s shared culture and heritage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Teams Up with AARP & RI State Police for Elder Fraud Prevention Summit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – Older adults are a growing population in Rhode Island, and a growing target for criminals seeking to scam them out of their hard-earned savings.
    In an effort to protect older Americans from financial exploitation and the proliferation of evolving scams, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today teamed up with AARP Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police’s Financial Crimes Unit for an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit at the East Providence Senior Center.  The presentation and Q&A session focused on a range of fraud and scams that criminals are using to target older adults and included tips for detection, prevention, and advice on how to report and recover if you or a loved one is victimized.
    According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), elder fraud complaints rose by 14 percent in 2023, and losses grew by 11 percent. The report found that elder fraud resulted in losses of over $3.4 billion in 2023, including $7.4 million lost by Rhode Islanders over age sixty due to scams.
    Senator Reed says public education and outreach is needed to lower that number, which is likely underreported because many victims are too embarrassed to notify the authorities or don’t know where to turn.  He credited AARP, the Rhode Island State Police, and local TV stations and the news media for helping to raise awareness and enable older Americans protect themselves, recognize telltale signs of scams, reduce victimization, and combat the financial exploitation.
    “Two of the most important things people can do to protect themselves against fraud is to stay informed and have open lines of communication with trusted sources.  And if you do get scammed, report it to the authorities right away so they can help you.  Criminals targeting older Americans try to scare victims and create a false sense of urgency.  Know the signs, stay informed, and never be embarrassed if you ever get caught up in a scam.  The criminals are master manipulators and with Artificial Intelligence and new technology, anyone can get scammed.  Brilliant people of all ages and from all walks of life have been victimized.  The one thing most victims have in common is: They didn’t tell anyone else what was happening.  Don’t let it happen to you.  Be forewarned and help stop these crimes by reporting them.  Local, state, and federal law enforcement are working together to go after the bad guys and bring them to justice,” said Senator Reed.
    To help older Rhode Islanders stay informed about evolving scams and equip them with tools to stop the latest fraud techniques, AARP offers a free Fraud Watch Network’s Watchdog Alert, a twice monthly notification that lets users know about the latest trending scams and how to spot and avoid them. It’s also easy to share with friends and family.
    AARP Rhode Island’s State Director Catherine Taylor stated: “There’s a false narrative that older people are gullible or forgetful. That’s not true. If you are the victim of a scam, it’s not your fault. The fact is many of these scams are being perpetrated by usually offshore criminals who are well organized, well resourced, and highly skilled. And they have a playbook with three common elements: make unexpected contact, yield high emotion, and create a sense of urgency. AARP Rhode Island has a host of resources, information and support that equip older Rhode Islanders to fight back against the crime of fraud.”
    Nationwide, the FBI reports that tech support scams were the most widely reported type of scam last year.  The top five varieties of scams include: personal data breaches, confidence and romance scams, non-payment or non-delivery scams, and investment scams. Investment scams were the costliest type of elder fraud.
    The Rhode Island State Police offers an Identity Theft, Fraud & Scams resource page with detailed tips on detecting and preventing a range of financial crimes. 
    “Romance scams, investment scams, pop-up scams on computers, and others are all things we’ve seen in Rhode Island. Although they may differ in tactics, the goal is the same: to take your money,” said Lieutenant Richard Ptaszek, head of Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit. “To help prevent scams, you must take your time, think about the request being made, trust your judgement and follow up with a trusted source.”
    If fraud occurs, please help the authorities track and prosecute it by reporting it to both the local police and using the Federal Trade Commission’s online reporting portal: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov  Last year, Rhode Islanders reported 11,906 fraud complaints to the FTC.
    To reach the Rhode Island State Police’s Financial Crimes Unit directly, call: (401) 764-5179.
    The U.S. Department of Justice also has a toll-free National Elder Fraud Hotline available to help at: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).  The hotline is staffed during business hours by caseworkers trained in elder abuse and offers translation services for non-English speakers.
    The presentation focused on combatting several types of schemes that the FBI says are among the most prevalent today, including:
    Tech support scam: Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues. The scammers gain remote access to victims’ devices and sensitive information.
    Grandparent scam: A type of confidence scam where criminals pose as a relative—usually a child or grandchild—claiming to be in immediate financial need.
    Government impersonation scam: Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments.
    Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam: Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations to gain victims’ trust. Or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstake, which they can collect for a “fee.”
    Home repair scam: Criminals appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services that they never provide.
    Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to capitalize on their elderly victims’ desire to find companions.
    TV/radio scam: Criminals target potential victims using illegitimate advertisements about legitimate services, such as reverse mortgages or credit repair.
    Family/caregiver scam: Relatives or acquaintances of the elderly victims take advantage of them or otherwise get their money.
    In many of these scams, the criminal impersonates someone else and tricks the victim over the phone or email, claiming there’s an issue with their bank account and they must make a crypto investment in order to resolve the problem. The scammer instructs the target to convert cash to cryptocurrency and upload it to an unsecured account that the scammer can access. 
    No legitimate entity will contact you over the phone and urge you to pay with crypto currency, gift cards, or precious metals.  Any time someone does this, hang up or cut off contact and report the incident.
    For more information, visit Senator Reed’s scam prevention page: https://www.reed.senate.gov/seniorscams

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Responds to Hurricane Milton in Florida as it Continues Coordinated Recovery Across Six States Affected by Hurricane Helene

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Responds to Hurricane Milton in Florida as it Continues Coordinated Recovery Across Six States Affected by Hurricane Helene

    FEMA Responds to Hurricane Milton in Florida as it Continues Coordinated Recovery Across Six States Affected by Hurricane Helene

    WASHINGTON – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell continues to lead the federal government’s coordinated recovery across six states affected by Hurricane Helene, while FEMA remains simultaneously focused on the immediate response to Hurricane Milton in Florida.

    The agency was assisting the state of Florida to prepare prior to Hurricane Milton’s landfall. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the ground in Florida with local officials assessing the impacts of the storm. Commodities, volunteer agencies, response assets and federal personnel are being coordinated through the FEMA Region 4 Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta and the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. Both facilities are activated on 24-hour operations to support the state.

    Resources and personnel have also remained in the states affected by Hurricane Helene to provide immediate long-term support. As these comprehensive recovery efforts continue, more than $344 million in federal disaster assistance has gone into the hands of Helene disaster survivors. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas is in North Carolina today to meet with state and local leaders, and members of the FEMA workforce supporting response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. These engagements follow his visit to North and South Carolina last week with President Biden.

    President Joseph R. Biden has approved federal disaster assistance in six states affected by Helene. This opens up federal help for survivors in designated areas in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Survivors may apply for assistance in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or using the FEMA App.

    Survivors may receive upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.

    These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across affected states impacted by Helene and the response to Milton.

    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56148″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/bc76a25a1cbb1cdf82f0b1c70612bb41.jpg?itok=95kdKLOD” alt=”Caption: Tallahassee, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Administrator is leading the federal response to Hurricane Milton at the Florida Division of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Tallahassee, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Administrator is leading the federal response to Hurricane Milton at the Florida Division of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center.
    TALLAHASSEE, Florida – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell speaks with Florida’s emergency management team at the Florida Division of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center.  (source: FEMA)
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56089″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/3ec38dff94d421b29e9b738c3e2fd7e4.jpg?itok=g-b1UW6a” alt=”Caption: Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division distribute food and water to residents in Asheville, N.C.,” class=”image-style-large”>
    Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division distribute food and water to residents in Asheville, N.C.,
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56153″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/62d2e63814faa422a6617faf9f64c4cb.jpg?itok=l9vCm5A0″ alt=”Caption:

    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2024) – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas visited the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

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    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2024) – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas visited the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56146″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/f303bf0f0d79b0a081336926e095b1fd.jpeg?itok=nLrjmb7g” alt=”Caption:

    Orlando, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Urban Search and Rescue is prepared and ready to respond to Hurricane Milton.

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    Orlando, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Urban Search and Rescue is prepared and ready to respond to Hurricane Milton.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56143″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/bb201edc491b02876939951937d6a29a.jpg?itok=MrXKeK6K” alt=”Caption:

    Orlando, Fla – Power restoration trucks and other equipment are pre-staging ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall.

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    Orlando, Fla – Power restoration trucks and other equipment are pre-staging ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56101″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/91804c58d1d2deaf450c6704c7a25190.jpg?itok=xkPZYW-3″ alt=”Caption:

    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Hooks visits the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center to provide support to those affected by Hurricane Helene.

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    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Hooks visits the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center to provide support to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56099″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/687e96e97136b77ee9df8c0ebb725ba9.jpg?itok=FAx5yq2S” alt=”Caption: Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith visits FEMA Corps members supporting Hurricane Helene response and recovery.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith visits FEMA Corps members supporting Hurricane Helene response and recovery.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56114″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/803bc2e74d88047e766de87fab89911c.jpg?itok=cizykDdV” alt=”Caption: Greenville, S.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks visits Greenville’s Emergency Operations Center to meet with the leadership to discuss the stabilization progress for the County. Deputy Hooks met with Greenville County Emergency Management’ Director Jessica Stumpf, Deputy Director Pierce Womack, Greenville City Fire Chief Brian Horton, Division Chief David Hindman, South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson, alongside FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, Brett Howard.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Greenville, S.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks visits Greenville’s Emergency Operations Center to meet with the leadership to discuss the stabilization progress for the County. Deputy Hooks met with Greenville County Emergency Management’ Director Jessica Stumpf, Deputy Director Pierce Womack, Greenville City Fire Chief Brian Horton, Division Chief David Hindman, South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson, alongside FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, Brett Howard.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56069″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/6dab3be35910de73fb3062ae41c6060e.jpg?itok=MCkazuYu” alt=”Caption:

    Newport, Tenn. (Oct. 7, 2024) – Volunteers open large distribution points for Hurricane Helene survivors to receive food, water, clothing, cleaning supplies, pet food, diapers and emotional support at Crossroads Community Church in Newport, Tenn.

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Newport, Tenn. (Oct. 7, 2024) – Volunteers open large distribution points for Hurricane Helene survivors to receive food, water, clothing, cleaning supplies, pet food, diapers and emotional support at Crossroads Community Church in Newport, Tenn. 

    FEMA’s Disaster Multimedia Toolkit page provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor control web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Administrative Review Tribunal

    Source: Australia Government – Attorney General

    The Australian Government has made six new appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and three new appointments to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) who will form part of the inaugural membership of the ART when it commences on Monday.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government releases more Fast-track detail

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has released the independent Advisory Group’s report on the 384 projects which applied to be listed in the Fast-track Approvals Bill, and further detail about the careful management of Ministers’ conflicts of interest, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.

    Independent Advisory Group Report

    The full report has now been published by the Ministry for the Environment. It provides the full list of the 384 projects that applied to be listed in the Fast-track Approvals Bill, and the Advisory Group’s recommendation for each project.

    “The Bill, as introduced, was going to contain two lists of projects with significant national or regional benefits: Projects listed in Schedule 2A of the Bill were intended to be ready to start the Fast-track consenting process as soon as the Bill passed into law, while the listing of a project in Schedule 2B confirmed that project’s national or regional benefits when it eventually sought Ministerial approval to enter the Fast-track consent process,” Mr Bishop says.

    “As we said when we released the list of projects last Sunday, the independent Advisory Group recommended to Ministers a total of 342 projects for inclusion in the Bill. Cabinet chose to include 149 of them after taking into account the capacity from expert panels to assess these projects.

    “When Ministers received the Advisory Group’s report it was clear that, because so many projects were suitable for 2A, having a separate list for Schedule 2B was unnecessary. The Government therefore proposes to amend the Bill to remove 2B.

    “Narrowing down the projects from the total of 342 recommended by the Advisory Group to the 149 which will be listed in the Bill wasn’t easy. The makeup of the final list is not a reflection of the quality of projects which weren’t chosen in the end, nor is it a sign that any future application to the Fast-track process for these projects would be unsuccessful.”

    Identification and management of conflicts of interest

    During the policy development process, Ministers sought advice on any conflict of interest matters from the Cabinet Office and management plans were put in place as appropriate. 

    “The Ministers for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development were delegated authority to determine which projects were to be listed in the Bill,” Mr Bishop says.

    For efficiency, Ministers each assessed specific sectors for listing:
      

    • As Minister of Infrastructure I assessed the Housing and Land Development, and Infrastructure projects (excluding transport and energy) 
    • the Minister of Transport assessed the Transport and Energy projects 
    • the Minister of Regional Development assessed the mining, quarrying and aquaculture and farming projects.    

    “In considering the projects recommended for inclusion in the schedule to the Fast-track Approvals Bill, Ministers were mindful of the need to manage any actual or perceived conflicts of interest between our pecuniary, personal or constituency interests and our ministerial responsibilities.  

    “Accordingly, we made arrangements with the Prime Minister’s agreement such that, where one of us identified a conflict of interest with a project, that Minister took no part in the consideration of that project and instead transferred their Ministerial responsibilities relating to that project to another Minister in accordance with section 7 of the Constitution Act 1986.  

    “Minister Jones identified conflicts of interest with eight projects and Minister Potaka was the Acting Minister of Regional Development in relation to consideration of those projects. Those projects were those submitted by:

    • Te Aupouri Fisheries Management Ltd 
    • James Murray Aquaculture Ltd
    • Taharoa Ironsands Ltd (3 projects)
    • Kings Quarry Ltd
    • Katikati Quarries Ltd
    • Matamata Metal Supplies

    “I identified one project with a potential conflict of interest due to a possible perception of having publicly advocated for it previously, and out of an abundance of caution I transferred the decision to Minister Brown. That project was Winton Land Limited’s Sunfield development in Auckland.”

    “It is important to note that these transfers applied only to the relevant Ministers’ decision-making responsibilities outlined above. Transfers were not required if conflicts of interest were identified in relation to projects for which that Minister did not have sector responsibility.

    “Once delegated Ministers had made decisions, the final list of projects was considered by Cabinet Committee and Cabinet. Ahead of those meetings, Ministers reviewed their interests and declared any conflicts of interest in relation to any of the listed projects.

    “Ministers who declared an interest with a particular project left the room for any discussion at Cabinet Committee or Cabinet relating to that project.”

    Attached:

    Letter confirming Fast-track delegated decisions process.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: From flood mop-up and rockfall remediation back to summer re-sealing in Coastal Otago

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    It’s that time of year again (although last weekend almost had us fooled): the days are getting longer and warmer and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) teams are embarking on a big season of road repairs and resealing across the Coastal Otago highway network.  (“Coastal” but it includes a big chunk of Otago hinterland also).

    Downer’s Highway Highlanders crews maintain, repair and rebuild the coastal/eastern side of Otago’s highways, including Dunedin, on behalf of NZTA.

    “We have a solid and extensive programme of work ahead to help improve our network,” says Ben Parker, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA, Coastal Otago.

    Highway Highlanders started delivering road reconstruction and resurfacing projects last month and work has now resumed after the recent floods, running through to March/April. As daylight hours increase, the warmer temperatures and dry air help new seals stick as intended to the road surface. 

    “While we welcome this work and the smoother road conditions each project will bring road users, we also want to remind drivers to take care around our crews and slow to the speed limit. Patience and a friendly wave makes all the difference to them given they work in all weathers, often in quite remote spots,” says Mr Parker.

    “If people can build in an extra 20 minutes to their journeys, it will help ease the pressure on everyone and reduce the temptation to make up time if there is a short delay on key routes. Our teams work extremely hard to ease delays and keep everyone moving.”

    We encourage everyone to check out NZTA’s highway map before heading off on a road trip:

    Smoothing out the Coastal Otago black ribbon of highway

    Overall, the Coastal Otago team has 116 lane kilometres, or 58 km of two-lane highway up for renewal treatments. For high impact projects, people will spot electronic message boards ahead of work starting, providing work dates and information.

    Rehabilitation (ie full road reconstruction) sites include:

    • SH85 three sites near Morrisons (between Kyeburn and Palmerston) – September to November
    • SH88 Station Road, Sawyers Bay – underway
    • SH1 Milton – dates TBC
    • SH87, between Outram and Lee Stream – dates to be confirmed.

    Resurfacing (asphalting) sites include:

    • SH88 Port Chalmers – completed (see photo below)
    • SH88 Anzac Avenue – completed
    • SH1 Barnes Drive Dunedin to the Glen, Southern Motorway – dates to be confirmed, end of October likely
    • SH1 Lookout Point, Dunedin to Burnside Overbridge – dates to be confirmed
    • SH1 Fairfield – dates TBC
    • SH1 Leith Saddle Summit – resurfacing starting 21 October
    • SH1 Green Island Offramp – dates to be confirmed.

    Chipsealing – many sites

    A number of areas of highway will be chipsealed this summer. These tend to be shorter duration projects with minimal delays for road users.

    Holidays

    The highways will be as free of work and crews as much as possible in the lead-in to Christmas and the New Year peak holiday periods when most traffic is on the roads. Resurfacing work will continue from mid-January into March/April.

    Work underway in George St, Port Chalmers, part of SH88, now completed ahead of the cruise ship season.

    Quick tips for happy summer travel

    • Remember, there will be delays on key routes.  Drivers should check road conditions before they travel – NZTA’s traffic pages(external link) and MetService for weather forecasts(external link)
    • Always take care when driving through road work sites and follow the temporary speed restrictions to ensure everyone stays safe. Our crews work year-round, they deserve to be safe.
    • Keeping your speed down where sealing work is underway or has just been completed not only helps chip to settle in the new road surface, it will also prevent stone chips flying into windscreens and protect road workers from injuries.
    • Leave about two car lengths between you and the car in front, four if the weather is bad.
    • Even if you can’t see workers on the road or it looks like works are finished when you come across a temporary speed limit sign, safety hazards may still be present. There could be loose chip from a recent re-seal, workers underneath a culvert or bridge or on the side of the road.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Joins Local Officials at Village of Wellington City Hall to Assess Hurricane Milton Damages, Support Recovery Efforts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Rep. Frankel Joins Local Officials at Village of Wellington City Hall to Assess Hurricane Milton Damages, Support Recovery Efforts

    Washington, October 10, 2024

    Wellington, FL – Earlier this afternoon, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined local officials at the Village of Wellington City Hall to assess damages and support recovery efforts following the significant impact on several homes caused by the tornado that Hurricane Milton spawned in the area.

    “The path of destruction from this tornado is shocking, with numerous houses in Wellington left severely damaged, while others right next door remained untouched,” said Rep. Frankel. “I’m deeply grateful to Palm Beach County’s first responders and local officials who’ve been working around the clock to keep Wellington’s residents safe and begin the cleanup and restoration process. I’m working closely with local leaders to ensure we get the federal help needed to support recovery and rebuilding efforts.”

    For those impacted by the storm, please visit the resources below for the latest updates on recovery efforts and available assistance:

    • Apply for Disaster Assistance: Residents in designated counties can apply for FEMA assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362, or through the FEMA app.
    • Document damage: Take photos to submit to your insurance company and protect damaged property. A helpful FEMA fact sheet is here.
    • Report hazards: Wellington residents can report issues like downed trees, flooding, or other storm-related concerns via the GoWellington App or by visiting wellingtonfl.gov/GoWellington
    • Waste disposal: Do not mix debris and vegetation when setting them at the curb. Wellington debris removal contractors will collect storm-generated vegetative debris in neighborhoods throughout the Village.
    • Power outages: Please report outages directly to Florida Power & Light (FPL) at fpl.com/my-account/web-outage
    • Get additional help: Call 211 or visit 211’s website to be connected with additional resources.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Satellite imagery charts emperor penguins’ struggle to survive

    Source: Australian Government – Antarctic Division

    New Australian research using satellite imagery to monitor the location of emperor penguin colonies in East Antarctica, shows the birds are struggling to adapt to rapid changes in their environment.
    Australian Antarctic Division seabird researcher, Dr Barbara Wienecke, said that for nearly one million years emperor penguins have responded to changes in their favoured breeding habitat, the Antarctic fast-ice* zone, moving to new locations if their chosen area becomes unsuitable.
    But recent untimely loss of their fast-ice habitat and record low sea-ice extent in 2022 and 2023, has led to breeding failure in some colonies.
    Scientists fear these recent events may herald rapidly worsening ice conditions, to which the penguins have limited capacity and time to adapt.

    “Emperor penguins need stable fast-ice for about 10 months a year, to breed successfully and rear their chicks,” Dr Wienecke said.
    “If their breeding platform disintegrates before early December, when the chicks still have their downy plumage, it’s likely they will all perish. If it disintegrates before the end of December, chicks without waterproof plumage will die.”
    As long-lived seabirds, Dr Wienecke said emperor penguins can cope with disruptive events, provided they do not occur frequently.
    “While they can move to new breeding areas, they have limited potential to adapt to accelerating environmental change and a shorter fast-ice season, as they cannot shorten the time chicks need to grow and develop,” she said.
    Dr Wienecke, sea-ice scientist Dr Jan Lieser, and seabird experts Dr Julie McInnes and Jonathon Barrington, used the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to look at changes in breeding habitat and ice conditions between 2018 and 2023.
    “Satellite imagery is a very useful way to determine the local and regional variability in fast-ice habitat,” Dr Lieser said.
    “From this we can assess the adaptability of emperor penguins to rapid change, and the impacts of habitat change on breeding success.”
    The team examined satellite images covering 6000 km of the East Antarctic coastline between September and December each year – the time for chick rearing and fledging.
    The team manually recorded colony locations each year and the distances between colonies and the nearest fast-ice edge.
    Adults need to be close enough to the fast-ice edge to access open water for feeding. But being too close endangers breeding success if the ice breaks up before the chicks are able to survive at sea.
    “Thirteen of the 27 colonies we studied across East Antarctica are at risk of reduced or complete breeding failure, due to habitat loss, and nine of these 13 colonies experienced reduced or complete breeding failure at least once during the six years of the study,” Dr Wienecke said.
    One colony disappeared altogether, but individuals may have joined other colonies in the region. Some colonies moved to new kinds of habitat, including ice shelves and ice tongues, but these areas can be negatively affected by iceberg calving events that alter local conditions.
    Previous population modelling studies project that 65% of emperor penguin colonies may become ‘quasi-extinct’ (doomed to extinction) by 2050. However, Dr Wienecke said the incredible variability in colony locations, relative to the sea ice, made it difficult to model population trends.
    She said the new study shows medium and high-resolution satellite imagery is a useful tool for annual monitoring of emperor penguin colonies and fast-ice habitat, Antarctica-wide, alongside ground-based and aerial counts.
    “Ongoing Antarctica-wide monitoring is essential to quantify the impact of changing fast-ice conditions on emperor penguins and the cumulative impacts of other threats such as disease,” Dr Wienecke said.
    “Satellite imagery enables us to identify the locations of emperor penguin colonies each year, and assess the local environmental conditions, which is critical to understanding the consequences for individual colonies.
    “This image analysis needs to be done in combination with ground and aerial counts of penguins within the colonies, where possible, to assess changes to local populations.”
    The research is published in Endangered Species Research.
    *Fast ice is sea ice that is attached to the Antarctic coastline, shoals, or grounded icebergs. It acts like a discontinuous belt around the Antarctic coast and can remain in place for multiple years. It provides habitat and breeding grounds for emperor penguins and Weddell seals. It contrasts with ‘pack ice’, which is not attached to land. Pack ice drifts with winds and currents and is constantly changing.
    This content was last updated 24 seconds ago on 11 October 2024.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill  Biden at the 2024 Girls Leading Change  Celebration

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    The East Room
    As we come together today, our hearts are breaking for the communities upended by yet another devastating hurricane. Families waiting for news of loved ones, of homes, of the places where their kids took their first steps, where they got married, where they built their lives. Maybe some of you know someone who’s been in the path of one of these storms. We grieve with you. And we stand with you. President Biden and Vice President Harris are making sure the affected areas have every resource they need. Welcome to the White House! I’m grateful to Congresswoman McIver for joining us to honor these girls. And we have some of the incredible girls from our first group of honorees with us. Thank you for coming back and supporting this year’s class. 
    Today, we say proudly, for all to hear, that girls are powerful. And that no one is too young to lead.
    Last year, I worked with the White House Gender Policy Council to create this event—to honor you, the next generation creating change right now. Our world isn’t always kind. And when you’re young—in middle school hallways and at high school lunch tables—it can feel like life is happening to you, like people are telling you what to think and who to be. Don’t let them. Each of you has a way of seeing life that no one else does—a perspective you add to every conversation, to every choice you make. And every time you show up as your true self—with your boldness, with your insight, with your questions—you shape our world.
    That’s what this years’ honorees did. They didn’t wait for life to happen to them. They stepped forward—spent their weekends and hours after school to make our world kinder, fairer, and filled with more possibility. You show us that girls can do anything, can be leaders and scientists, writers and entrepreneurs, advocates for change, and, of course, president! I teach writing and English at a community college not far from here. At the end of the school year, teachers hope our students feel changed. I know I do. But what you might not know is that you—all of you—you change your teachers too. My students’ perspectives challenge me and shape me. To the young girls in the audience, that’s true in your classrooms too. The conversations you have stay with your teachers and classmates long after the bell rings or summer break begins. You’re already changing the world, even though you might not realize it. Every time you tell us who you are, with the words you write, with the hours you dedicate to something you believe in. When you accept someone else for being themselves. When you’re not afraid to follow your curiosity and share what you’ve learned. It isn’t always easy, but it’s important. And that bravery is what we need in the face of our, at times, unkind world. It’s how we unlock new ideas, come up with innovations that might seem impossible to someone else. The earth is brighter because of you. Keep filling it with your ideas and your hard work, leading us toward the future you want to see. Thank you. *** Thank you all for the important work you’re doing. You’re already leading the next generation forward. Can we get another round of applause for our honorees? And Karine, I’m grateful to you for taking the time to join us today. To the middle-schoolers in the audience, to all the girls leading change, there’s something I want to point out to you. It’s the people in this room. They’re leaders of non-profits and tech companies. Military families and public servants. Elected officials from across the country. And they’re girls, just like you. They’re all here for you. To support you. They believe in you. And so do I. And so do your President and Vice President. Hold on to that unique perspective you have. And as you look to the future, know that you will never be alone. This community will be right there beside you. There’s power when we come together. A power to hold each other up, even when we want to crumble, to heal one another, to share our inner strength. To create lasting change. So, if you’ve ever wondered, “Can I—one person, one girl—can I make a difference?” Standing here, among all these incredible women and girls, we have an answer: Yes, you can! Let this community be a light we all carry inside us for the days to come, connecting us across generations, so the confidence of girlhood can become the courage of womanhood. Now, please enjoy the reception.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury Leads Letter Urging Speaker Johnson to Call House Back Into Session to Vote on Emergency Disaster Relief Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    ALBUQUERQUE—Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) led a letter urging House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) to bring the U.S. House of Representatives back into session to approve necessary funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to fulfill their Hurricane Helene and Milton relief missions. Recent legislation has provided initial relief funds but falls critically short of what will be necessary to address the scale of destruction and the recovery needs for Fiscal Year 2025. From Milton and Helene, to wildfires and flooding at home in New Mexico, replenishment of federal disaster funds is critically needed. 

    61 Members of Congress signed the letter.  

    “I want to send everyone who is in the path of Hurricane Milton my prayers,” Congresswoman Stansbury said. “This is a difficult time, especially as Hurricane Helene made landfall just a few days ago. In New Mexico, our communities experienced a catastrophic fire and flooding in Lincoln and Otero counties and are still recovering. But beyond that, we need to make sure that all families and all communities across the United States can access necessary disaster relief funds. That’s why I co-led this letter. We must do the work to ensure our communities are safe.” 

    “We write to you amidst a season marked by unprecedented natural disasters and increasingly severe weather events that have left communities across our nation in dire need of additional and comprehensive disaster relief funding,” wrote the Members. “The funds previously allocated were a necessary first step, allowing for an initial response to the immediate aftermath of these disasters. However, as recovery efforts continue, it is abundantly clear that these funds will not suffice.” 

    As representatives of the American people, it is our duty to ensure that every community has the resources to recover and rebuild in the wake of devastation. This is not merely a matter of policy but a profound obligation to the citizens we serve, who depend on their government for support in their most critical times of need,” the Members continued. “Therefore, we strongly urge you to bring the US House of Representatives back into session to approve the necessary funding that will empower FEMA and the SBA to fulfill their disaster relief missions. Our communities cannot wait, and we must act swiftly to provide them with the assurance that their government will stand by them.” 

    A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here, or reading below: 

    Dear Speaker Johnson,  

    We write to you amidst a season marked by unprecedented natural disasters and increasingly severe weather events that have left communities across our nation in dire need of additional and comprehensive disaster relief funding. 

    Recent legislation has provided initial relief funds, yet these provisions fall critically short of what will be necessary to address the scale of destruction and the recovery needs for Fiscal Year 2025. We, therefore, urge you to immediately reconvene the US House of Representatives so that it can pass robust disaster relief funding.  

    The funds previously allocated were a necessary first step, allowing for an initial response to the immediate aftermath of these disasters. However, as recovery efforts continue, it is abundantly clear that these funds will not suffice. 

    Furthermore, the frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events are a clarion call for proactive measures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must be equipped not only to respond to current disasters but also to adequately prepare for future events. This requires substantial funding that ensures FEMA can maintain a state of readiness and provide immediate assistance when disasters strike. Additionally, the Small Business Administration disaster relief loan program must be replenished as soon as possible to help business owners rebuild their enterprises and communities. 

    As representatives of the American people, it is our duty to ensure that every community has the resources to recover and rebuild in the wake of devastation. This is not merely a matter of policy but a profound obligation to the citizens we serve, who depend on their government for support in their most critical times of need. 

    Therefore, we strongly urge you to bring the US House of Representatives back into session to approve the necessary funding that will empower FEMA and the SBA to fulfill their disaster relief missions. Our communities cannot wait, and we must act swiftly to provide them with the assurance that their government will stand by them. 

    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We hope for your leadership in reconvening the House and ensuring that our nation is prepared to meet the challenges posed by natural disasters. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Research on lunar samples collected by Chang’e-6 mission underway

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Research on lunar samples collected by Chang’e-6 mission underway

    Updated: October 11, 2024 08:28 Xinhua
    Li Chunlai, a researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission, observes a lunar sample retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. Research on the lunar samples collected by the Chang’e-6 mission is still underway, according to Li Chunlai, a researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS, and deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission. A research paper published in September on the lunar samples brought back by the Chang’e-6 mission says that the Chang’e-6 samples exhibit “distinct characteristics” compared to previously obtained lunar samples. The Chang’e-6 probe was launched from China on May 3, 2024. On June 25, its returner made a landing in north China, bringing back 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Li Chunlai, a researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission, poses for a photo at the lunar sample laboratory in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Li Chunlai, a researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission, deals with lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Li Chunlai (R), a researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission, studies lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A researcher deals with a lunar sample retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A researcher shows a lunar sample retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A researcher shows a lunar sample retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Researchers deal with lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Li Chunlai, a researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission, observes a lunar sample retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –